block of sake lees
Refers to sake lees (酒かす) pressed into a solid block, used in cooking and pickling.
See also: 酒粕
Dissolve a block of sake lees in water and add it to miso soup.
These pickles are made using a block of sake lees.
Standard spelling using かす for lees.
Alternate kanji spelling using 粕 for sake lees.
Rare variant using 糟; less common than 粕.
Compound of 板 (ita, 'board, block') and かす (kasu, 'lees, dregs'), referring to sake lees formed into a flat block.